Top Ten of 2009 - Best in Show

#1 - Lost – The mythology that this series has created, and it’s fascinating (and very complex) universe have kept me enthralled since the first episode, and as things are getting ready to wrap up this final season, I am literally on pins and needles wondering how all this is going to work out. With all of the different storylines going on and the insidious knots between all of them, this show makes your head spin but it is a great ride. This is the best written thing on TV, the most complex and enthralling story that I have seen since Twin Peaks, and it will be a sad day once it is finished. Thankfully, I have my Dharma Orientation Kit to help clear up some of the basic points but I am dying to know more about the mysterious statue on the Island and how it all ties into Richard and Jacob and Locke. Has time been changed by the group in the past or has it already happened for the present day events to be taking place? All these paradoxes will not be answered until February. One of the Best Shows ever!

#2 - Glee – It is probably no surprise that this show is way up at near the top of the list, it has an amazingly talented cast, great songs and writing and every episode has made me smile. I have been literally blown away by the quality of the performances and a special nod to Rachel (Lia Michele) and the over the top Sue (Jane Lynch) who surprise me each episode. I love that the leading guy is Canadian, and it is so cool to have a character like Kurt (played by the fabulous Chris Colfer) that is a positive gay role model for teens. This is way beyond the sanitary High School Musical, and is a more realistic representation of a modern High School and the real problems that real teens have to face. It has been a long time since there has been a musical series on the air, and the ratings seem to be holding well so I am crossing my fingers and hoping for a full season or three.

#3 - Supernatural - The Apocalypse storyline has been fantastic, and our brothers are learning that they need to rely on each other as it all goes to Hell. The duality of the Winchesters and their fight against the big bad Evil is all gripping stuff and has even been heart wrenching as those around them pay a heavy price for this ultimate good vs. evil battle, but there is still hope on the horizon. The great thing is that even with the end of the world, the guys have still managed to skate a fine line with some very funny stuff tempering all of the bad, and they are both so damn funny and sexy it is a worthwhile diversion each week. I have jumped out of my skin several times this past season as there has been some great horror writing, but I think the parody stuff that they do (The TV episode was hilarious with Dr.Sexy) and all of the geek stuff like the Fan Conventions and all the tongue in cheek self references like the book series is what makes the series so much fun. I hope this is not the final season and we can see more adventures with the Winchesters.

#4 - Doctor Who - This past season was extremely short due to the limited availability of David Tennant, but they did manage to wrap up a few storylines and end the series on an emotional note. This current series was my first experience with the Doctor, and I have loved all the different trips that we have been on over the past 5 years. I will miss that sassy humour ( I am still chuckling over the “ Worst rescue ever” line from the finale) and the quick wit that comes with a well written story, and this series has forever changed my view of sci fi. I must admit that I have been spoilt with this well crafted series, and I have some trepidation to check out the new adventures when they start, but have to say that I have been smitten by a masterful series and hope to see more of these Who Universe Characters. I don’t know if Russell T. Davies will be involved with any of the other characters, but I am hoping for better resolution with our friends from Torchwood. It feels strange to mourn for a character that is gone but not really dead, just completely changed in to some one new.

#5 - Bones- The story lines this year were back on track as Brennan and Booth continue their awkward mating dance. I know they like to keep the sexual tension going (it seems to be the thing in this genre of show), but it would be nice to see them actually hook up, and not just in dream land. The rotating interns have been a hilarious addition to the cast this year, and this show seems to get better with each season as the ensemble gels more and more. Not only does this show have some of the most creative episode names ( The Dwarf in the Dirt), but the interaction between all of the cast is so hilarious that the comedic side really helps temper all of the death that permeates this series. I still want to see Hodgins and Angela get back together, but all the various distractions with Angela along the road have been hilarious. Cam has rounded things out nicely as the mostly no nonsense kind of boss (with mixed results) and I will say it again, I am still convinced that Sweets is not all that he appears and may turn out to be the new Gormogon who has been curiously absent this past season… so far.. anyways… the series is highly underrated and David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel are not given enough credit, they are damn funny and sexy together.

#6 – The Big Bang Theory – This has to be the King of the Geek shows, and I love the intellectual/scientific and geek humour and the great way they are developing each of the characters as the show grows. I am really happy to see the balance between Penny and Leonard, and even happier that they have not ignored the comedic genius of Johnny Galeki (Leonard) who is a tad more subtle than Sheldon but can really deliver some killer lines. The balance of his relationship with Penny (who has really learned how to hold her ground and kick some geek butt) and Sheldon is priceless and over the top most of the time. The comedic timing is killer on this series, and I love how they have been rounding out the Raj and Howard characters and making a better synergy amongst our herd of geeks and the hot chick. The recent appearance of Christine Baranski as Leonard’s mother was hilarious and I am hoping to see more of her. I would kill to have half of the geek stuff that litters their apartment (not to mention have their cash for all that loot) and Sheldon has go to have one of the best tee shirt collections, ever.

#7 - Smallville – I am not the only one that noticed that this show is so much better sans Lana and all the emotional tripe that came with that character. Erica Durance’s portrayal of Lois is dead on and she has created the right balance with our hero in the making. I wish that they would go more towards his costume instead of the black crap, and they really need to let the guy fly (it’s ridiculous that he is not yet at this point) but they are writing some good stories, and I have been loving the guest appearances by other heroes (well, the Smallville versions) from the DC Universe. This year’s storyline is interesting, they do seem to be trying to find a balance with all the characters but I still find that they are a tad harsh on Chloe. I am digging the whole Watch Tower idea and having a central point to coordinate everything, but they seem to be having a problem fleshing her character out more into the Oracle inspired one that they are working with. I do like seeing Chloe getting a bit more cutthroat about things (her rehab of Ollie was priceless), but get tired of the keeping secrets crap with her and Clark. There is a ton of emotional baggage on this show that makes things a tad too teenage-drama, but things are maturing slowly but surely.None the less, this season is really surprising me and I can hardly wait to see the upcoming event with the Justice Society! Is it too much to ask for more Clark in tights?

#8 – Better off Ted – The pacing of this show and the hysterical cast of characters at Veridian Dynamics have made this show a real chuckle fest each time is has played. I loved the first episodes and the introduction of Ted, Linda, Lem, Phil and Veronica and the strange corporate entity that they work for. Ted is the “straight man” of the group, playing the glue that tries to hold it all together, but it is Veronica (Portia De Rossi) who steals the show as the tough as nails/cold hearted bitch that runs everything. Everyone fears her, and she is priceless as she quips things like “God, you people are paranoid. No wonder the company has to secretly manipulate you.” The series has no qualms about being politically correct, and has confronted different issues about the workplace from office romances to genetically manipulating the employees. I really hope this series is around for a few more seasons, it’s has been a hilarious ride so far, and I love the fake commercials from Veridian that pepper the series. Making your world better. Whether you want us to or not.

#9 – Modern Family – It is a big change for the Top Ten list this year as there are several comedies that made the list, and this show has been hilarious since it’s premieire episode. I initially checked it out as I wanted to see how the gay couple was going to be portrayed, and was so pleasantly surprised with Cameron & Mitchell and the baby adoption storyline (which must be making some Fundamentalist heads spin) which has been very well protrayed. The characters are hilarious and Cam saying “ Yes, I've gained a few extra pounds while we were expecting the baby... but that's science. You can't fight it.” had me rolling on the floor and I was instantly addicted to this show. The combination of all of the extended family (including Shelly Long as the ex wife) has had me laughing my ass off, and hats off to the daughter Alex, who steals many an episode with her dead pan delivery of intellectual zingers that mystify her less brainy brother and sister.Good writing always makes for a funny show and the writers are fantastic, and the cast very, very funny.

#10 -DollHouse– I have to say that I worship at the altar of Joss Whedon, and even though the series is being cancelled, and the premise a little sensitive (and a tad unsettling at times), I have loved the development of characters and the weird and wonderful universe that Joss has created and will miss yet another show once it is finished burning off the last episodes. Eliza Dushku is stunning as Echo, and I have really enjoyed seeing Tahmoh Penikett since his appearances in Battlestar Galactica, but the real revelation has been Olivia Williams as Adelle DeWitt. She is an extreme force to watch out for and has really turned into a fascinating character. As expected, the series was not well received by the general public, and it’s a shame as it is well written and fascinating to watch. I love getting spoiled and seeing other actors from some of the other series that Joss has done who have appeared on the show, and hope to see Joss writing another TV series soon. There is a void on the air that can only be filled by him.

Almost made the List: Sarah Jane Adventures, Burn Notice, Chuck, Eureka

Brilliant yet cancelled: Pushing Daisies, Samantha Who?, MadTV, Terminator: the Sarah Connor Chronicles, Battlestar Galactica (all things must end unfortunately)

Fallen from Grace: Torchwood, Heroes

Biggest Disappointment: DollHouse (yup it made the list but stumbled terribly and was too hit and miss... a shame..., Stargate Universe, V, Flash Forward

Best Promo Photo:

Weekend Rant – The Week in Review

Things have already started finishing up for this season and this past week brought the end of the season (and possibly the end of the road) for Chuck and Heroes. Heroes has completely bored me this season and it really felt like the writers were grasping at straws before ending this season with a whimper and nothing that particularly interesting. I can not understand how and why they have decided to make the characters all caricatures of themselves, and the only bright spot in the last episode was the reappearance of Tracy (at least her story had an interesting twist) but I hate what they are doing with Hiro and the rest of the gang. Why have the big fight scene with Peter and Sylar if nothing was shown? The whole death of Nathan and resurrection via Sylar was stupid. What a waste of characters.

Chuck fared much better and I love the multiple storylines with the gang at the Buy More, Ellie and Awesome’s wedding and the whole Chuck/Sarah dynamic. I was in hysterics at the end when Chuck got all Intersect 2.0 and suddenly had ninja skills. It was a great way to continue the series and I really really hope that the show will be back for another season. There is way too much of a wealth of characters to ignore or to waste. Good writing – it’s just too bad that some of the viewing public has jumped ship.

Bones had another astounding episode with The Beaver in the Otter (and no it is not some new fancy food preparation) that delved in frat life and it has to be the scenes with Booth and Brennan that kill me each time. Temperance is so clueless (yet curious) and her dismissal and apparent fascination with Sweet’s methods of deduction had me on a roll. I still say that our psychologist is up to no good and I bet you that our dweeb that was helping out the Beaver with hacking into the database is a potential new acolyte for the Gorgoman, the guy seemed too impressionable and there is something about Sweets that gets the hair standing up on the back of my neck when he is on screen sometimes, I may sound repetitive but I am still convinced that he is up to no good. In our rotating intern position, the Muslim guy was hilarious and I loved his reasoning to why he was willing to work with Hodgins on his banned experiment. The episode was more brilliance and the whole Beaver was banging a Cougar was hilarious…. the writers do an amazing job. It was great seeing Booth’s brother again and Booth hit the nail on the head when he got Brennan to “Dine & Dash” in an effort to get her to lose some of her good behaviour and harden her frontal lobe. Booth has some pretty funny theories sometimes and I love watching Brennan’s head explode at the threat of non science. This show is so under rated it’s ridiculous.

Lost is blowing my mind with all the twists and turns that we are learning concerning our scientists that Widmore hired to come to the Island, and more information about Daniel (and his very cool mother) and the big revelation that Mr.Widmore is also dear old dad to our nerdy scientist. I am still not sure what the whole scoop is with the Hostiles and why Eloise left as well (it seems that many of the residents on the Island decided to leave at one point) and it looks like we might be getting more of a reveal to some of the big secrets as this season starts wrapping up. There is still a lot of unanswered questions and I am wondering how Mom shooting Daniel is going to work out.. the death tally on these scientists is stunning and I wonder if Miles will survive also.

Survivor Tocantins is as amazing as any of the good seasons of Survivor, and I am really digging how the game is coming together for some of the players. It’s a shame that the know Coach won immunity this round, but I have the impression that lots of the gang are getting tired of his yapping and I can’t believe how utterly disposable his morality is. All bark and no bite it seems, the way that things are going I am starting to get the impression that one of the more subtle players (like Taj) will win it all. The alpha players seem to be all about getting rid of each other right now and not looking at the more subtle threats. I was sad to see Sierra go, but it depends on how you play the game but I loved how she was fighting to the very end.

Smallville is prepping for the end of the season (and breathing a sigh of relief knowing that they are coming back for another season) and I can’t believe that after all this time that Clark is such a knob that he doesn’t realize that Chloe is trying to protect him. I don’t completely understand the dynamics with Jimmy and Oliver (seemed like filler to me) and Clark needs a super kick in the butt to realize what Doomsday is. It’s all going to hit the fan with only 2 episodes left this season and I am looking forward to seeing how it all ends. I still say that Clark and Doomsday bite the big one at the end of the season and we will have to wait for next season for the big resurrection. Time for more heroes!

Supernatural was quite the episode and explained more about Angels than previously know ( I had no idea that they used vessels while on our plane of existence) and the back story to Castiel was interesting. I am not sure if they are building up to the same kind of finale that we have had for the past couple of years, but Sam is in some big kind of trouble with that demon blood monkey on his back and his detox could be interesting. I am looking forward to the last 2 episodes of the season but finding that suddenly the season seems short and the ending snuck up on us. The storyline has not developed as clearly as I first thought and I almost feel like we have missed a chapter. I am glad that we already know the Winchester boys will be back next season, but I think that might have cheated us out of a more dynamic last few episodes.

Weekend Rant - The Week in Review

The past week was not bad with some surprising episodes of Lost and Bones, while a few shows fumbled the ball (Smallville - again) and Project Runway Canada is really beginning to get on my nerves, but there were shows like Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Dollhouse that have really surprised and shocked me.

The Amazing Race is still as amazing as ever, and it was a shame to see Mike & Mel hit the road but you know that once one team gets way behind the others there is never that much of a chance to catch up. It's all about how you play the game and our 2 stunt men got perilously close to hitting the road after sabotaging the other teams. This game is really about fair play and you have to out perform to win -- not try to trip up the other teams. The teams are really pushing themselves and Tammy & Victor seem to be the leaders at this time.

Dancing with the Stars dumped Holly and the Woz (finally) and I hope that Steve-O gets his act together soon or he will be leaving soon.Lil' Kim was amazing and looks great, and you can really tell that Cheryl wants to win this year so she pulled out all the stops (and probably a roll of duct tape) to get her cleavage into that outfit and tangoed Gilles into a frenzy. Ty is still impressing me and Shawn is adorable.

Both Chuck and Heroes missed the boat this week with episodes that felt too repetitive (again) but I am looking forward to seeing the story arc with Chuck's dad. Heroes has completely lost it's way and feels like the same story done over and over.... I am just waiting for the next version of Ally/Niki/Traci to show up and get killed. My interest and hopes of a 3rd season are fading quickly, and I can't believe how the writers have dropped the ball on this series. What was once very promising has turned into an test of endurance.

Project Runway Canada has me waiting for Sunny to win and nothing more. This season was too dull for my taste and this crop of designers is too straight and bitchy. I can hardly wait until the US version returns (the legal issues are getting settled finally) and I will have to check out the new Bravo replacement The Fashion Show when it hits the airwaves. I need a Heidi and Tim fix.

The only thing that has been fabulous enough on TV recently was RuPaul's Drag Race (one of my favorite Guilty Pleasures this year) and I was like a little boy Christmas morning when I heard they have already booked a second season. The only thing as fun as that is this season of Make me a Supermodel, which has all the gorgeous people and the craziness of the Janice Dickinson Modelling Agency with out the psychopathic Janice and some astounding photo shoots. I think Jonathon has a great chance of winning and is really impressing me. The cast is less gay this time around, but as enthralling as ever.

Lost has my head spinning with possible temporal paradoxes and I absolutely love that Hurley asked the questions that we all had to know... and I was literally peeing myself laughing as he and Miles had their "nerd off" to see who had the right theories. I love how they are tying up some of the mysteries (what Sawyer whispered to Kate) while starting more and Ben being taken by Richard to be healed. Seeing our modern day Ben wake up to John Locke was a hell of an ending and I am literally on pins and needles waiting to see what happens next. One hour per week is not enough of this show.

Bones pulled off a surprisingly serious episode that was very Cam-centric, and was almost too different as it was not as humorous as the usual episodes. I was pretty sure that Cam's new adopted daughter is none other than Monica from Heroes, so I am glad to see her getting more work but wondering how this all fits into the series. I think I am just in shock because the episode was so different than the usual episodes of Bones and it was interesting to see one of the other characters in the spotlight. It was nice to see Tamara have the chance to show her acting chops.

Survivor: Tocantins is great and I love how we are getting up to the merge and the Hidden Immunity Idols are starting to come into play. I think that if anyone finds an Idol now they better be sceptical, because it seems that everyone who has found one of the Idols tries the Fake Idol fake out now (and it's a good idea) and it might keep people on their toes. Rule of thumb, they have to be played occasionally as well as it's great to have one but useless if never used. I would really like to see that tool Coach hit the road though, and hope that happens soon.

Smallville has me wondering why Clark is such a tool most of the time and why Chloe is still the poster girl for bad choices this season. I thought that after the previous episode she was being more proactive about things, but this Davis/Doomsday thing is getting out of hand. Tessmacher surprised me with blowing up Davis, and I saw an interesting twist on her personality that makes her psycho and dangerous, but nothing like Lex. Her idea of testing Clark is a good one and am waiting for the big fight at the end of the season. More adventure and less angst please.

Supernatural churned out another great episode and I loved the slant on the print version of Supernatural with our boys being all romance novel inspired. Angels, demons and prophets -- it seems the end of days is coming up and I expect an Apocalypse of a finale this year. I am glad that the show is coming back and feel better going into finale season knowing that there will be a follow up, but still wondering how they are going to try to tie up this major storyline in the next few episodes.The series has been even more thrilling this year and the writing has improved over last year.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles shocked me this week with the very unexpected death of Derek in a move that I really did not see coming. No one is safe on this show (except John) and it is really starting to tear him apart watching everyone die for him. There is some very interesting developments with the storyline and I am loving the tension. I just hope that next week is only the season finale and not the series finale. I expect a pretty big body count after the next episode and when the dust clears I hope to see Cameron still around. This show is not getting the credit or attention that it deserves.

Dollhouse is continuing to be another brilliant brainchild of Joss Whedon, and although I am having a bit of a problem getting past the whole "pet" angle of the Dolls (and am still not sure of the whole human traffic element of the show), the writing has been great and Eliza is as phenomenal as ever. I love seeing the Dolls bond, and the underlying story of our very hunky FBI agent Paul Ballard (loved our Canadian guy in Galactica) and the apparent chemistry between Echo and Ballard. Hot stuff... and the insights into what makes Echo, Victor, Sierra and November tick makes the show even more fascinating. Josh is all about writing great characters, and his work is shining here. I just hope that the ratings are enough to get another season, things are starting to get very interesting and this better not be another Firefly.

Lost - Let's do the Time Warp Again

I am starting to find the time paradox part of the story a tad confusing now in Lost and wondering what (if any) are the consequences of the majority of the Oceanic Six (Hurley,Jack,Kate, Sayid) being back with the Dharma Initiative (and obviously before the purge with the appearance of our young Ben -- and that was brilliant casting with the big eyes and intense stare) while somehow Ben, Lapidus and Sun got stranded in modern day (and all from the same plane -- and not counting Locke and the other survivors of this particular flight) yet there is also the difference that they landed on the test island while only specific players faded out of existence as if they were chosen by the time warp... it's all very intriguing and I can hardly wait to see who things turn out. Sawyer (aka La Fleur) is turning into a better leader than Jack on the Island and gets our gang accepted as part of the new arrivals coming in by submarine. Unfortunately Sayid gets discovered sneaking around the jungle and is captured and identified as a hostile (Dharma speak for others) and is thrown into prison. The drop dead ending with the young Ben approaching Sayid in the cell is the probable beginning of Ben's betrayal and killing of the Initiative, yet with Sayid thrown into the mix it opens up the probable can of worms ... and had me thinking "If you could go into the past and kill Hitler as a child would it prevent all the death and destruction that he caused later in life?" and I have the feeling that Sayid is having some similar thoughts to that at this time. Will he look at this as an opportunity to change the future or is that even possible? Miles doesn't seem to think so and has alluded to the fact that Daniel has left because of that reason (the whole Charlotte thing) but I have the feeling that things can be altered and that is part of the reason with their jaunt to the past.

It was a fantastic episode, and I am on pins and needles waiting to see more and per usual, it all happened too quickly and we didn't even get to see what was happening with Locke and his resurrection, not to mention the current predicament with Ben and the ever mysterious Christian and his cryptic mention to Sun and Lapidus have a huge journey before them.

Can this show get any better?

Weekend Rant - The Week in Review

This week went by in record speed (I think losing that hour had a bit to do with it but just as much was the release of Watchmen in Imax which I thoroughly enjoyed. If you want to see an amazing and complex film -- I highly recommend checking it out, the film blew my mind.

It was a great week for the tube ( or the LCD to be a tad more modern) and I was impressed with the quality of some of the shows and the great writing. Monday nights are still ruled by The Big Bang Theory and the hysterical nerds. My other nerd fare for the evening, Chuck and Heroes are not hitting as many balls out of the park this season (although I do have to say that Chuck has been improving the past couple of episodes), but Heroes is really leaving me lukewarm and wondering why they have gone in this direction more than anything else. Medium is still the best bet for the evening and with such a daunting schedule, I am still running way behind on 24. I'll catch up eventually.

RuPaul's Drag Race is the fiercest show on the airwaves at this time and I can't get over the way over the top outfits, the fabulous make up or the brutal honesty of our girls. Bebe Zahara Benet is the hottest thing and my choice for Queen of this Ball, but dear little Ongina was so real and honest that I was heartbroken when she was let go. I can only dream for a better world. You may be gone from the competition Ongina but you will survive and only one thing to say - you better work it!

Tuesday is still a mostly Canuck TV night, and the regular mainstays like the Rick Mercer Report and This Hour has 22 Minutes are as scathing and hilarious as usual, but Project Runway Canada is boring me with the same formula over and over in their second season. Unless some huge disaster happens, Sunny is going to win the competition as he is miles above everyone else, is not saddled with the ego problems that seem to be a requisite for the majority of the competitors and is the highlight of each runway. Sure, Jessica may have gotten the top nod this week (I didn't really care for her design and can not understand her whole urban vibe that she is trying to pull off, the girl is from Toronto and not some hood in southern LA) and Jeff got the boot for being a bad designer and by his bad executed reversible (wtf?) disaster. When you have to start glueing pieces together or drawing on stitching then you might think you are in the wrong competition. It's a shame though, I did like him at the beginning but quickly realized that he (and several of the other designers), are way out of their element and the competition has this weird symmetry to it.

Lost has my head spinning in different time paradoxical ways with the gang being back in the 1970's and part of the Dharma Initiative. I can see more why Daniel's mom was so reticent about the Oceanic Six being on that last plane as it seems to have drawn all of the players back together on the Island, albeit at a different time and in different circumstances and it opens up a whole new can of worms with Ben being there. There is of course all the issues of Locke dealing with Ben (who killed him), the new identities of the Jin, Sawyer and Juliet and the rest of the motley crew that have now become part of the Dharma group, the ever mysterious and ageless Richard and the sudden arrival of the Oceanic Six. Things are complicated, interesting and making my brain hurt. I literally had kittens when our gang was time shifting and we saw the giant statue for a few seconds before they shifted again and it was gone once again. I wonder if there is some ancient people behind all the unique properties of the Island (Atlantis maybe?) but still have the feeling that it was aliens and possibly a crashed ship that has been on the Island for a very long period of time. This season has been astounding and I can't believe how great the writing has been.

Make me a Supermodel came back with it's second season, and it is as addictive as ever with mix of competitors, great challenges and sexy boys and girls. I am really liking Sandurst and it's nice to see one of the boys out and married (Shawn), and it think of Clark Kent kind of guy, Colin is completely adorable. The very very very androgonous Chris is a bit too much, and our good Mennonite girl Salome is reminding me alot of last year's winner, Holly. I don't think it will be the same kind of girl winning this year but am looking forward to the competition. Let the games begin!

Survivor Tocantins is barreling along and I really like the mix of characters this year. Taj is really growing on me and I love the sneaky alliance that she has going with Brendan, Sierra and Stephen. Coach and his minion Tyson are starting to get on my nerves and I hope that their team wakes up and gets rid of Coach soon, he talks big but sure as hell has not been walking the walk that goes with all his talk. Tyson is just turning into a jerk that likes to see people suffer, that is a bit too sociopath for me and we'll have to see what happens when and if things are shaken up. Our hidden Immunity Idols should be coming into play soon (it looks like they are hidden the same spot as the first Immunity Idols) and they are sure to shake up the game soon. I love it when we get to merge time and it's everyone for themselves, let's just see if they can get rid of some of the deadwood before that time. The location is stunning and I can't believe how amazing this show looks in all of its HD glory. Nice work Survivor.

Burn Notice finished up the season and redeemed it's self over the past few weeks with episodes that ended up the current storyline and brought the series back to the fun and dangerous feeling that it had is season one. It's great having Fiona and Michael back together (and they make such a hot couple) and I love how well Sam and Michael's mom are playing off of each other. Here's hoping they bring the show back for another season as it is still Top Twenty at the least and no one else has such a great voice over explaining the tricks of the spy trade. Michael Westen is the sexiest spy on TV at the moment (not to mentioned best dressed) and it would be a shame to miss out seeing more of his adventures.

Battlestar Galactica is amazingly good and I can't believe that in a couple of weeks it will all be over. I know that the finale will be atleast 3 hours long but have the nagging feeling that it will leave more questions than answers and possible/probable sequel or follow up to the series. It's heartbreaking to see Adama losing all of his important women at the same time, Galactica and Roslin. There is so much going on but you can feel the impending sense of finality with all things, the end of Galactica, the end of the quest for a new home, the end of their current way of life. I think we are in for a huge final blow out, with the winners picking up the pieces and creating a new race of Cylon/humans. All I know is that I can only hope for something to follow this (in the spirit of Galactica 1980), showing the new home.. and I have the feeling that the other Cylon homeworld " The Colony" is a key to all of this. It will be a trip to see this all play out over the next couple of weeks. All good things must come to an end eventually.

Weekend Rant - Making up for Lost Time

Things have been running fast and furious for several weeks now, and as I continue playing catch up with a few shows (24 is one of those), I have been making sure that I keep up with my Best in Show favourites such as Lost and Battlestar Galactica. This has to be one of my favourite times of the year as both of those series are rolling out phenomenal seasons and the writing has been incredible. It is nice to see some complicated and enthralling story lines and both series have been keeping me on the edge of my seat.

Dollhouse has really sucked me in with after only 3 episodes and I salut Josh Whedon for creating another fascinating universe. Eliza Dushku is really having a chance to show her acting chops with her portrayal of each of the different persona's and as her fugue Echo in her Tabla Rasla state. The premise is intriguing, I am loving the stories so far and the back story with Alpha and the massacre at the Dollhouse. Casting Amy Acker as the resident doctor for the Dolls is more Whedon brilliance and is totally geek pleasing stuff seeing one of my favourites from Angel (Fred/Illyria) as the scarred Dr. Claire Saunders, and I have been thrilled to see Tahmoh Penikett (Helo from BSG) cast as the FBI agent trying to uncover the Dollhouse. This strange melding of both the Buffy and Galactica universes has me hooked and I can hardly wait to see more.

Lost and The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham has my head spinning watching John Locke getting manipulated by all the different players surrounding his quest to return to the Island, and it's hard to tell who is actually telling the truth.Is it Richard (and Christian?) that are working together on behalf of the Island, or is Widmore and his quest to get the Island back or does it have something to do with Ben? The big reveal that John was going to commit suicide after visiting and being rejected by the majority of the Oceanic 6 in an effort to get them back to the Island, only to be stopped at the last minute by Ben. Of course John made the error of revealing a bit too much information and then was killed by Ben who staged John's suicide. Now that we have John waking up on the Island with a new group of people and an injured Ben makes me wonder what John did in a past life that he needs to make up for it now, or what is so damn special about him that has been alluded to by all the players. One thing is certain, they all seem to need him. The only thing that I can say is that the return to the Island was astounding with all those convenient coincidences.... but I can hardly wait to see Sun and Jin meet again once we figure out When everyone is. Damn this show is astounding.

Battlestar Galactica has me completely sucked in to the last few episodes and I am on pins and needles waiting to see how they will end things with our survivors. Will they finally find home? Is Hera truly the salvation they are looking for? Is Starbuck a clone or hybrid? Something else? Will Galactica hold together long enough to find a new home? Will the President live long enough to see her people safe? So many questions and so little time left...

Heroes is still boring me senseless with the current story line and if the ratings keep dropping like this we may not see any more after this season. Unfortunately this series has fallen victim to the biggest problem that hits sci fi shows ... it seems that it is a problem to try maintaining good writing or well developed story lines that keep the viewers coming back, and I have been bored silly since this story arc started. Wake me up when this snooze is over as they keep just rehashing the same things over and over. At least Chuck is still hanging in there quality wise, but it really has to be Medium which is the most gripping show of the evening. This show is an example of good writing that has made for some great stories so far this season. I love Alison being a bit more out of control and this past body snatcher/possession storyline is making me think that hubbie Joe is going to have a major meltdown soon if Alison keeps putting the kids in danger.

I wish the scheduling would get back to normal and shows like Bones and Big Bang Theory get back to airing new episodes,the occasional new episode is not enough and don't get me started about wanting to see the final episodes of Pushing Daisies. Some shows get no respect and I am furious with ABC for holding on to the last episodes and not even giving the crew a chance to tie things up with the storyline. MADtv finally had a new episode this week, and it was great to see the gang doing their very funny schtick after several months of repeats and compilation episodes. I hope they will air all the final season and let the cast say their farewells. It would be great to see some of the old gang to tie things up but I am not really holding out too much hope for any hooplah. For all we know, all the stuff has already been taped and we are just waiting for it to air.

Project Runway Canada is starting to become too predictable with pretty much the same formula being used over and over. Iman looks fierce, Challenge, at least one designer freaks out and is on the verge of a complete meltdown. There is tons of bitching and usually the biggest whiner goes home, and Sunny wins. Repeat. I bet ya Sunny wins the competition...

My biggest guilty pleasure at the moment has to be RuPaul's Drag Race, which is turning into one of the best shows ever. Not only are our contestants fierce from A to Z, but they are all such lovely and different creatures that you can't help but want all of them to win, except for the one that they are shamelessly promoting as the biggest bitch because the show has to have one. This show hits so many of the right notes with its over the top spoofing of other reality shows and having the balls to show the guys as much as the boys they are as their Drag counterparts. It's a shame that a couple of the more marginal girls have had to go, but I am routing for Angina. Drag is about being a parody or being a character and not necessarily about being a female impersonator. You go girl!

Weekend Rant - Endings & Beginnings

Things finally wrapped up this week for Superstars of Dance, and while there were a few amazing dancer performances, I hated the format, the judging and have no interest in seeing another season. I hope it was the last time for that experiment, I don't think that they really thought it through fully enough before airing the series as it was just bad. Of course, TV karma has compensated for that piece of crap with the return of Randy Jackson presents: America's Best Dance Crew (ABDC), and some really tight and astounding dance routines. The judging is as urban as it gets (and I think the judges push that as far as they can), but there are some outstanding dance teams and I am always in awe seeing them perform.I have been loving the underdog Dynamic Edition team and their fusion of Clogging and Hip Hop. Talk about whack... and more.

The great white North is a step ahead of American friends with the return of Project Runway Canada this week and the second season started off pretty rough for our contestants. With in the first 4 minutes of the show we had our first contestant leave due to an anxiety attack, and not 10 minutes later (and several hours in to the filming), we had a second contestant leave due to other medical issues. I am not sure how the selection process worked for these contestants, but I have the feeling that Iman terrifies them in ways that Heidi Klum can never do and that had quite a bit to do with their stress level and the subsequent meltdowns.

The first challenge was interesting but I didn't like the military vibe. I am happy to see their official mentor Brian Bailey has lost the 70's porn star mustache and is now wearing a more contemporary look, and it looks like a few of the designers have some real talent. I think Jeff has a real chance to go somewhere in the competition, and I am calling Jason out as the biggest poser in the competition. If you saw his "now you see her, now you don't" outfit from the first challenge you would see why. As Iman says, " In fashion, sometimes you just don't measure up", and there are a more than a couple of them that have completely missed that boat. As usual it is absolute Must See TV and I can hardly wait for the next catty episode. It's just a shame that the original series is still stuck in legal limbo, but the Canuck version has almost everything that I want.... it's just missing Tim Gunn.

Scrubs had me in hysterics this week with their Sesame Street episode, and I loved the slightly more adult appearances of the Muppets. The show is hitting it's beat and I still think that NBC made a big mistake with letting it go, the writing is hilarious.

Smallville is still leaving that bad taste in my mouth with each episode that Lana appears in. I am tired of the teen angst portions of our production and I just wish the writers could get over it and get back to the adventure vibe that was happening at the beginning of the season. It appears that my hopes for Insect Queen are being dashed (red kryptonite anyone?), and I really hope they get back to the Lois and Clark thing quickly (no sign of Lois again this week...) and finish up with ninja barbie. Sorry, but not believing the whole Lana /boot camp/torture thing and really want this guest arc to finish up, now.

Supernatural is pulling out great episodes (I jumped several times this week in our ghostly possession episode) but want to see more of the story surrounding Lilith and the Seals. The writers need to combine those elements more or we will all be in Hell before May sweeps even happens. It's called story progression and I need a bit more.

Lost is the bomb (literally and figuratively with our Hydrogen bomb named Jughead) and is blowing my mind with our time travelling Island and the way they are filling in the missing pieces of the puzzle by revealing connections to the ever mysterious Island and even more mystery surrounding Richard. It looks like there might be some more heartbreak around the corner with Penny giving birth to Desmond's baby and naming him Charlie, and the realisation that some how they need to help set things right, but the biggest shock of them all had to be the reveal that Widmore is an Other and from the Island originally... and it wasn't that shocking that he is the one funding Farraday, but learning about the problems surrounding our scientist was fascinating (and probably terribly dangerous pour Charlotte who seems to be linked to all of this) and all this time paradox and radiation can not be a good thing. This show is such a mind cluster frack that I can not stop obsessing over some of the details, and I am all convinced that it has something to do with a crashed Alien ship and that Richard is the sole survivor. Time will tell.. our Oceanic Six were not around much this week (an hour is just not enough) and slowly but surely the pieces of the puzzle are coming together.

Battlestar Galactica is as enthralling as ever with the current mutiny and unrest with in the fleet and their uneasy alliance with the Cylons.The civil unrest following the huge let down of finding a scorched Earth was not that surprising, but the mutiny on the Galactica will have some serious ramifications for some of the characters and Adama's threats are not to be taken lightly... telling Gaeta that he will die with nothing will be a sight not to be missed. The pacing in the episode was phenomenal, and I loved seeing Starbuck & Apollo work together again and helping to hold off the mutiny. Starbuck looks like she has gotten back some of her kick ass attitude back after being pulled through the wringer. Apollo is just realizing what he is getting into with the current rebellion and it is so ironic that his nemesis is played by none other than the original Apollo (Richard Hatch). The re-appearance of Roslin as the President (finally ending her seclusion for the moment) on the Galactica and addressing the fleet was an astounding moment that may well turn the tide towards a better solution and the cliffhanger ending of Adama and Tighe trying to hold off the mutineers against all odds was classic. Don't count out the old dogs yet, they have a ton of tricks up their sleeves and may the gods help those who stand in their way. As things tie up (damn these episodes start and finish quickly) I really hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel after all this, I can't believe that there are no other survivors of the human race and the 13th Colony.

Weekend Rant - Another Blitz !

Life has it's busy moments, and I am still sprinting non stop for the next few weeks... so this week is another Week in Review and my biggest hits and misses of the week.

I absolutely loved the special edition of Desperate Housewives and their tales of the handyman. Not only was it great to see the ladies in flashback mode (loved the first meeting of Gaby and the girls), and it was nice to see characters like Rex back for an appearance, and I think it is always a great treat to see Mary Alice. The episode was very well written and I laughed and cried with our housewives and the common thread that brought them all together.

Momma's Boys came to a merciful end with our boys and mothers unhappy. Like I said before, I am not predicting any happy endings and I am glad that this experiment is over ... none of the guys really followed their heart and that should be the essential element. In reality, should we even expect anything deep from these self professed momma's boys.. they are used to being told what to do and to have everything done for them.

24 is keeping a decent pace, but is already starting to stretch into more of that
"Did they really do that ? " territory with the apparent shooting and burial of our more than slightly miffed and confused FBI agent Renee. The storyline is still intriguing enough that I am coming back for more and I can hardly wait to see more with Bill and Chloe. Another geek off between Janis and Chloe would be more than appreciated (their mutual admiration for each other was cute as well) and I have the feeling that Janis is the mole and will be kind of like the anti-Chloe to to screw things up for Jack. At least the essential and important elements of this series are in sync , and Jack and Tony are being rough and tough double agents working for some rogue agency because of some government conspiracy. I wonder if the story lines will change now that there is a different vibe at the White House and the new administration seems more public and honest.

Smallville delved into angst territory again this week with Lana still on board and Lois curiously absent once again. I am looking forward to getting back in to hero mode and Lana leaving again, Clark just turns into a babbling idiot and some one needs to give him a super kick in the ass. They have been going back and forth on the hero thing and we better get into some tights soon, or attempts at disguising our reluctant hero so he really can be a force for good and start realizing his potential. I will say that I did like the Lana stuff when she showed Tessmacher how she was the eyes and ears of Lex with out knowing it, and it will be interesting to see what side she will play on now, but I am more interested in seeing things develop with Lois and Clark and for the series to be more action and adventure oriented.

Bones came back this week with 2 episodes and both of them were brilliant for different reasons. I loved seeing Booth and Bones undercover and off to join the circus as Canadians, Buck and Wanda Moosejaw who have this nifty act called Boris & Natasha & their Russian knives of death. Both of them were hilarious and Bones had me on the floor with her deadpan questions and comments. Her blind faith in Booth and his knife throwing abilities was surprisingly logical, and the affection between the two of them is obvious to everyone except them it seems. They had too much fun together at the Circus and it was great to have the show back on the air. I loved the 2nd episode as well, and you could see that David was having too much fun with the hockey theme. I still have alarm bells that go off with Sweets, and am still convinced that he will be a bad guy some time in the future.

The return of Lost was the biggest highlight of the week, and I loved the 2 hour opener that started to answer some questions and reveal some of the secrets of the Island. I love the whole unstuck in time thing that is happening and how it appears that things can be influenced over the time stream if you know the right door to go knocking on... they had already shown in a past episode that there was a distinct link between Desmond and Daniel (The Constant), and now it looks like Daniel can communicate with the Desmond on the Island (in the past), who will remember the meeting as a dream or memory and maybe able to change the sequence of events. The time travel/paradox issue looks like it will be a major part of the storyline and I am interested to see how all it will play out and how it ties into the apparent death of Locke and the need to get everyone back to the Island. I bet that once they are all back, Locke will come back to life (he is very special after all) and things will be changed in the Time/Space Continuum. This show is amazing and I have the distinct feeling that long term viewers will be treated to lots of great stuff this season. It was great to find out more about what happened with the gang on the Island after the big white out and it was a definite treat to have an episode of Sawyer shirtless. I wonder if Jack's hairy chest will come back during one of the flashbacks and I bet we will have at least one time travel episode where our survivors meet up with themselves. That will be a trip.

Top Ten of 2008 - Best in Show

#1 - Pushing Daisies -
Being chosen as my number one show is bittersweet and ironic as the show has not been renewed and it will soon join the realm of other Brilliant but Cancelled shows. This modern day fairy tale is simply so different and quirky than anything else out there, it had to be at the top of the list for it's sheer genius. Each episode looks and feels so magical and has such a quick and brilliant wit about it. The playful banter between the actors that is punctuated by different surprises such as music or magic that I am in complete awe each episode. It is a shame that there is not a network that is willing to broadcast the rest of the series, and I still feel cheated by having a stunted season last year due to the strike and then cancellation this year. In all, we get the equivalent of one season and I feel ripped off. Bryan Fuller has promised to continue and end the story, even if it means going into another medium such as comic books, so I feel content that I can say how things develop but feel cheated at the same time. Such is the fate of shows that are out of the box and willing to be more creative... I long for a time when something well written and well produced can be shown just for the pleasure of sharing it's creativity -- unfortunately this is TV and it's the almighty dollar that makes the choices.

#2 - Lost - Even with a short season last year, the writers' have created such an enthralling tale that I can't wait to see what might/has/will happens next. No other show has such a story filled with such complexities and managed to keep us all guessing with a combination of flashback and flash forward sequences. I am still completely hooked and want to see more of what happened with the Oceanic Six, the disappearance of the Island, the mysterious Ben and even stranger Jacob.This show doesn't get the credit it deserves and I can hardly wait to see how things will be this season. It's great that they like to run the season so that there are no interruptions, but I hate having to wait so long to know how the story is going to develop ... with only 34 episodes left there is a lot going on and I know that there will be more twists and turns along the trail, and I can hardly wait.

#3 - Supernatural - The chemistry between the Winchester boys is what makes the series and the combination of dark humor and gripping story lines has made every episode a must see event at home. The guys are just too funny and sexy even with everything going to Hell around them, and the current storyline with Dean being pulled back to Earth out of Hell by Angels and Sammy playing on the dark side with Ruby reads like a Shakespearean epic. The big story of battling Lilith who is trying to destroy the Seals that keep Satan in Hell is astounding and the big battle with Archangels and demons has been off the charts. They have even being throwing out special treats to the viewers this season with Dean's hilarious air guitar sequence to Eye of the Tiger. Solid writing, sexy guys and good acting make for a good series and this one has not been disappointing.

#4 - Doctor Who - This past season was fantastic with Catherine Tate joining the fold as the new companion and impressed me with her dramatic acting skills. I loved the Donna Noble character and her development and ultimate loss over the season. Russell T Davies wrote a hell of a season finale that crossed over into the whole Who universe ( The Children of Time) and it was astounding to see the Doctor with Rose, Martha, along with Captain Jack, Gwen and Ianto from Torchwood and Sarah Jane, K-9 and Luke. They managed to throw in tons of other characters from the past couple of years and have a huge universe shattering ending. Since BBC TV doesn't have to be written with a conventional happy ending, things ended with Donna losing her memories of her time as a companion (as well as her personal evolution) and she can never have the memories back with risking certain death. It was a hard lesson and harsh ending to a character, and I curious to see if the issue will ever be addressed again. The writing and stories were astounding and refreshing, and although this upcoming season will be short I will relish every moment.

#5 - Torchwood - The story lines this year were very adult and things started off with a huge Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang and the introduction of James Marsters as Captain John Hart, Captain Jack's former colleague and lover. The stories delved more into Jack's life and his brother Gray, and we had the treat of seeing Martha Jones of Doctor Who fame make a guest appearance for a few episodes.The status quo changed around at Torchwood, and poor Owen was killed, but stayed on as a living corpse before being finally killed off (again?) in the season finale. Toshiko met her end in the final episode of the season, leaving only Jack, Ianto and Gwen at Torchwood. The new season will only be a 5 episode arc, but is better than no Torchwood at all. At least I got some more John Barrowman during this past springs How do you solve a problem like Maria? reality show that aired here in Canada but would love to see more. It will be a rough year with a reduced amount of Who Universe characters.

#6 - Battlestar Galactica -Things were put on hold since June and they will be airing the final episodes (finally) starting this January, and I am itching with excitement and very eager to see how things will be played out. The final Cylon model will be revealed (I just hope that it isn't the President -- that would be the biggest irony of all) and it will be interesting to see how things will change now that they have discovered Earth -- or is that really Earth or some other distraction? The acting and the writing has been phenomenal, the biggest complaint about the series has been the long wait time in between episodes and how Sci Fi seems to be milking it for all it's worth. It's still one of the best things on the tube and hopefully the spin off prequel series Caprica will be as interesting and engrossing as this one. It is still a definite not to be missed series and I can hardly wait to see how things finish off.

#7 - Bones - The show fumbled a bit this season with the separation of Hodgkins and Angela and the team was still reeling from the loss of Zack, but the show managed to hold on to it's core and even if things felt off a tad, they have churned out some great stuff so far this year. I don't think that breaking up our couple worked (I did like the tension when Angela's ex showed up) but I prefer it when the sexual tension is between Booth and Bones. Our reluctant lovers are still butting heads, but there are more and more moments that they seem to fit so well together that are unfortunately punctuated by Bone's lack of tact or just by her having no comprehension of the facts. I still find it humorous that a writer (Bones) who seems to not know much about popular culture is a popular author. It is just another endearing quality of Brennan. David has been killing this season with his very cocky Boothe strutting his stuff (I love the belt buckle) and his sly and subtle sense of humor has been creeping back in.I liked the idea of rotating interns (it reminds me of the good old days and the never ending stream of secretaries on Murphy Brown), but now that we are to the point of seeing some of the interns come back again, I am liking the idea less. The team is starting to feel like they are getting back in sync, but I am still convinced that Sweets is too good to be true and linked with the Gormogon. There are lots of unanswered questions and I am pretty sure that Sweets has the answers, it's just too convenient that he came into the picture at just the right time and has had some peripheral implication in pretty much all of the situations that involved the killer. I bet you he is the new Master and Daisy is going to be his new apprentice.

#8 - Terminator: the Sarah Connor Chronicles - Even with Fox bumping this show on and off of the schedule, the stories have been solid and the acting is tremendous. I absolutely love Lena Heady as Sarah Connor, and she is totally believable as the character. It is rare to find an actress that can embody a well established character, and she has really taken the torch from Linda Hamilton and made Sarah her own. She certainly knows her mission, and I really like how they have been adding new depth to the character, now that they have changed time and managed to skip over that pesky death by cancer. The addition of Uncle Derek was another brilliant move that has added more of a human element and created a bigger sense of family, and Cameron is a great choice as the enhanced Terminator sent back to protect John. Shirley Manson has been disturbing as the T-1001 that is working against our heroes, and it has been a great storyline this season. Hopefully all the time shifts and schedule changes won't get this one cancelled, it's a great addition to the mythos.

#9 - Smallville - I have loved and hated this series since it started, but this year I can honestly say that I have been enjoying the stories and have been really liking the development of things between Lois and Clark. Erica Durance is becoming my favorite representation of Lois to date, having the right balance of toughness and sensitivity, and she has such a commanding presence that you can't help but notice her. If she wasn't calling Clark Smallville all the time I don't even think that they could keep the title of the show as all the action has been taking place at Metropolis and at the Daily Planet. I have been not entirely happy with the storyline with Chloe (the part of her no longer being a reporter), but I like her in Control Tower mode (reminding me more of the Oracle character from Birds of Prey) and find it a good balance for the character. The season started off great with an appearance of the Justice League and the regular appearances of Green Arrow and the Martian Manhunter have added a new dynamic to the show. The Brainiac/Doomsday storyline that is currently running has been playing out well and I am looking forward to seeing how things play out over the next few episodes. I think it is time to dish the no tights/no flights rule of the show and for Clark to start playing dress up like the rest of his hero friends.

#10 -The Big Bang Theory - This is the only comedy that made it all the way up the list, and every episode this season has had me laughing on my ass. Not only is this one of the best written comedies on the air, but it has some of the funniest characters created for a sitcom ever. The character of Sheldon is sheer brilliance on every level and his Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock variation was another example of the mindset of the character. It should be noted that the concept was not the writer's idea but an homage to Sam Kass who developed the concept in 2005. I really like how they have been developing the relationships between the characters as well as fleshing out our gang of geeks and getting to know more about what makes them tick. Brilliant minds make for great writing and this show is always worth the watch.

Almost made the List: Chuck, Samantha Who?, The Sarah Jane Adventures

Fallen from Grace: Burn Notice, Heroes

Biggest Flop: Knight Rider, Fringe, 90210

Lost - Season Finale -- What a ride !

Lost finished up this tremendous season with a completely kick ass multiple episode finale -- so astounding that it has taken me a couple of days to absorb all of what happened and to be able to make some sense of all of it.

It was that good... and for you negative nellies that feel the story line is not going anywhere -- well you just missed the BEST EPISODE ever. I suggest you find it and watch as soon as possible.

Where to start? Flashing back to our "flash forward" ending from last season, we see the follow up to Jake and Kate's argument at the airport in the future, and see Kate leave again, only to stop her car and we finally get to get past this one moment and see more of what is going on. Our Oceanic six are all in bad places, and tired of living the various lies that they have propagated since their miraculous return. We finally learn the reasoning behind this elaborate hoax -- and it's a thrilling ride with tons of bumps and sharp corners (and giant mystery wheels) that was one of the best couple of hours of TV that I have ever seen.

Things are getting dangerous on the Island -- our various factions are scattered between the beach, the Orchid and the freighter. Locke, Ben and Hurley are off to the Orchid as per Jacob's instructions to move the Island. Our gang of mercenaries from the Freighter are waiting for Ben and need to bring him back alive to Widmore. The gang on the Freighter have discovered the huge bomb on board and know it is under the control of the mercenaries, and it can blow at any moment.

Ben surrenders himself to the mercenaries, and Locke and Hurley try to find the entrance to the Orchid. There is a great fight scene between Sayid and the nasty mercenary Keamy, where the ever mysterious Richard saves the day and pumps a few bullets into Keamy. For their help, Ben gives Sayid and Kate the helicopter as a way to leave the Island.

With Ben free, he makes it back to Locke and gang who have been joined by Jack and Sawyer. After Ben tells Jack of their plan to move the Island (received with much scepticism - Jack doesn't have the belief that the others do), and the guys leave Ben and Locke to get to their project. They go to a much lower level via an interesting elevator system and Ben gives Locke another Dharma Initiative Orientation Video to watch, this one explaining the Orchid, and it's unique properties and the experiments involving time travelling bunnies. There is this hilarious scene with our Dr. Hanso explaining the danger of metal objects coming in contact with the Vault in the video and Ben grabbing anything and everything metal in the room and piling it into the Vault at the same time. Keamy suddenly appears ( combination of body armor and the Island's unique properties it seems... ) and lets them know that he has a Dead Man's switch attached to his body. If his heart stops, a huge amount of TNT will blow up the Freighter and kill everyone on board.

Ben ignores all this, and attacks Keamy, viciously stabbing him in the throat and Locke is stunned and tries to save Keamy's life as to prevent the bomb from going off. Ben makes it clearly know that he doesn't care what happens to the others as long as he got his revenge. On the Freighter, they are trying to disarm the bomb, and are only able to freeze it from detonating, and are quickly running out of coolant. It's all going to hit the fan, and soon. Keamy dies and the bomb gets ready to blow up. Michael is using the last of the coolant to delay the explosion and tells the others to leave.

Jack, Kate, Hurley, Sayid, Sawyer and Lapidus are all on the helicopter and heading back to the Freighter, they have taken a few hits and are leaking fuel, so in an effort to make it back to safety they lighten their load and Sawyer jumps off to give the others a chance. He ends up swimming back to the Island and meeting up with Juliette on the beach.

The helicopter barely makes it to the Freighter, only to learn that they have to leave immediately before the bomb explodes. They quickly patch (thank god for duct tape) the hole and start pumping fuel. It's insane as Sun, Kate,Desmond, Jack, Hurley, Aaron,Sayid and Lapidus leave on the helicopter as Jin arrives too late. Christian appears before Michael and tells him that the Island is finished with him... and the bomb explodes. The Freighter is gone in no time and the helicopter is heading towards the Island. Sun is in hysterics.Someone give that woman an Emmy please, she is one of the most astounding actresses on TV.

Daniel was ferrying survivors from the Island to the Freighter, and was just on his way back to the Freighter with another group of what seemed to be all 'unknown' survivors (all wearing red life jackets which sounds a little Star Trek to me...).. Charlotte and Miles want to stay on the Island and all of our players are in their positions.

It's time for Ben to play the big card ... and move the Island.

After blowing up the Vault, there is a tunnel and cave on the other side. In this strange icy world ( what????), there are some strange hieroglyphics and a huge wheel-sprocket thing in the wall. Seriously -- and it looked like it had been there for a very long time.... there was some difficulties and Ben was quietly cursing Jacob for making him do this. In a herculean effort, he turns the wheel.... and it all glows white again... and the Island is gone. Poof - vanished -- leaving only ripples in it's wake.

Our Oceanic Six have no choice and hit the water in the helicopter. After breaking out a life raft they are rescued by none other than Desmond's beloved Penny (Widmore's daughter). Our Six know that they have to lie to protect the other survivors who are on the Island (where abouts unknown), and know that they are in probable danger because none of them were to have survived. They concoct a story that includes Boone, Libby and Charlie as other survivors... and Aaron is suddenly Kate's baby. There is a striking flash forward scene where Jack learns that Claire is his half sister (and Aaron his nephew) and another where Kate has a dream in which Claire tells her not to bring Aaron back to the Island).

The biggest shocker at the end being that (in a flash forward) we discover Locke (aka Jeremy Bentham) dead in a funeral home back in "regular" time.. meaning that he left the Island after some time and ended up dead.... does this mean that Ben can go back?

Of course... there is a ton of unanswered stuff about where and when the Island might be -- what happened to Daniel and his boat ? Is Desmond still his constant ? Is Penny in danger to be killed by Ben? Will the Oceanic Six go back to the Island? Will Walt keep growing? That flash forward of him meeting Hurley was freaky stuff... maybe we will see more of him next season but I am not counting on Michael... I think his story might be over but I can hardly wait until next season.. wait dammit -- that means 2009... arghhh!!!!

Weekend Rant - Playing Catch Up

The Couch Potato had a real busy week, and have not had any time to post this week so this is probably going to be the busiest rant I have done in ages..

Start your engines:

Survivor:Micronesia proved once again that in this game you never know what is going to happen. Erik honey, you can run but you can't hide the fact that you made the biggest blunder in Survivor history (much to Jame's joy-- he finally loses that title) by believing that he could give away Immunity to win votes. Ummm is this an episode of Smartest Model? Erik was worked over by all the girls (except Parvati, who seems to think she is on vacation) and my money is on Cirie winning the whole thing but my choice is Amanda who has played a great game. That girl has been working it left, right and centre the entire game. If they don't get rid of Amanda next council, she might steal the crown.... so I think that Cirie will try to get Amanda out. If that fails, bye to Natalie (and the last Fan). This season has been great and I was howling with laughter as Erik got played at council.... even Jeff found it amusing. All will be revealed tonight, and there is no way I am missing the finale and reunion, I can hardly wait to see Erik get raked over the coals a bit for his "stoopid move". I mean seriously-- a chance to be in the final 4 and you give that up? Seriously? sigh...... but we do have the first all female finale.. sharpen your claws....

Dancing with the Stars had me having kittens after the performances on Monday and apparent bad scores for Marissa & Tony. I was breathing a sigh of relief and jumping for joy when she was put through to the semi-finals and was glad it was Mario who got ousted. Now I am not sure if it was just me, but Karina was so blase about the whole thing (and had the total don't frack with me look on her face) and I see that some of the other female professionals are starting to get a bit tired of the whole thing. I am hoping to see Cristian eliminated next and
I am not really sorry to say but Cheryl is really starting to get on my nerves and I can't wait to see her leave. Edyta is the only female dancer that seems to have a decent attitude (and who can't with her yummy partner Jason) and the male dances seem to be hanging in better. I still think that Kristi & Mark are going to win it all.

The 100th episode celebration was interesting-- I loved seeing Mel & Maks again (they have such great chemistry) and it was an interesting trip seeing the evolution of the series (and thankfully they glossed over some of the really bad ones quickly) but I found it interesting to see that our year one winner seems much less qualified compared to our current competitors. Kelly was okay.. but she wouldn't have made it past the first couple of weeks if she was competing now. They have got to find some way of getting Sabrina back on the show -- she was eliminated way before her time and I am still dying to see more.

Lost knocked another ball out of the park with more time discrepancies relating to the Island (the doctor on the freighter finding out his fate before it happens was freaky), but more of the back history of John, and besides finding out the he was a premature baby born to a single teenage mother, there was the surprising guest appearances and tests with Richard (does that guy ever age?) that were designed to see if he was the chosen one. I loved John's artwork of a smoke type monster that was attacking a guy.. very vivid imagination for a child. Later there was more of the mysterious Mr. Abaddon and some inspiration to John to go on his infamous walkabout that brought him to Oceanic Flight 815, and then this repeating scene and the revelation that Jacob's cabin was built by a mathematician (very interesting considering the unique properties of the Island) and said cabin currently houses Christian (Jack's Dad) and in a strange twist of events , Claire (his illegitimate daughter)... it's all very freaky and interesting stuff but what is going on with Claire?

And this thing about it is now time to move the Island ...

What?? My head is going to explode with all the players, shakers and movers .. what about the soldiers who want to kill all of them? What about Jack and the others on the beach and not really aware of the danger? and dammit there are only a couple of episodes left until the end of this season... arghhh!